Michigan State University
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

MSU utilizes various economically feasible minimization methods for different waste streams. Activities include: consolidation of smaller wastes into drums to reduce the bulk of materials produced; elementary neutralization of corrosive materials; segregation of non-RCRA materials into separate waste streams; return of discarded commercial chemical products to serviceable use on main campus where use is as originally intended by the manufacturer. These processes are detailed by Environmental Health and Safety (https://ehs.msu.edu/waste/index.html).

MSU has strategies, processes, policies and training in place to minimize the presence of these materials on campus. In addition, less consumption is promoted and alternative solutions suggested to reduce the overall use of materials. MSU has eliminated the burning in 2016, eliminating a number of key wastes such as coal ash.

All hazardous and non-regulated chemical waste produced on campus or on off-site research stations is transported to MSU's regulated Waste Storage Facility in vehicles that are licensed by the Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes and Energy. All containers of waste are properly labeled by the generator with the identity of the waste- this information is compared with the color and consistency of the waste to ensure label accuracy. Trained hazardous waste professionals consolidate compatible wastes into 55-gal drums and the drums are then picked up by qualified vendor at regular intervals. https://ehs.msu.edu/waste/index.html

No Incidents

Each laboratory on campus is required to keep an up-to-date accurate chemical inventory as a part of managing their laboratory chemicals. It includes the amount, location, date and responsible person for all acquisitions, syntheses and disposal for the chemicals. Once a lab manager files a form for disposal of chemicals, it is collected by hazardous waste professionals and determined whether it is in a reusable condition. They may then offer the chemicals to other researchers in the same building or store them at the Waste Storage Facility for future reuse before removing them as waste. Researchers are also encouraged through training to purchase smaller quantities of chemicals when possible to avoid excess waste quantities.

EHS worked with the Department of Chemistry on a pilot program for Chem Inventory, which has was very successful. The system eliminates the purchase of excess quantities of chemicals that may not be needed or used and reduces the amount of chemicals on campus. Use of the system also has multiple safety benefits. It allows EHS to pull inventories or run queries on chemicals, significantly improving efficiency and response time in case of emergencies. For example, if EHS is alerted to a particular concern or there's a chemical exposure, EHS can query a particular researcher's inventory to see if there are any concerns. If a fire breaks out in the lab, EHS can quickly pull up chemical inventories for that lab and provide that information to first responders. The system also allows EHS to run reports for state and federal agencies on chemicals of interest. Chem Inventory also provides helpful information to inspectors, allowing them to identify what to look for during their inspection before they arrive on site. The inventory system also supports research by opening up new opportunities for collaboration among researchers. Faculty can query the database to see all the researchers that are using a specific chemical, which could support knowledge sharing. Chem Inventory also allows researchers to search by structure of a compound, which could enable researchers to identify chemicals they hadn't previously considered using.

MSU's sustainable management of electronics waste has several components as illustrated in the infographic uploaded as supplemental materials. The Computer Division of the MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center manages all of the university's e-waste. The main goals are diverting waste from landfills and ensuring the security of personal information and data. All electronic waste is processed through the MSU Surplus Store operations. Items that cannot be resold or reused are recycled through a vendor. MSU has a Technology Leasing Program to reduce the amount of technology purchased for shorter, finite periods of time. University departments can lease items such as desktops, laptops, and iPads for either short term or long term use. It offers university departments these electronics for less than half the price of third party technology leasing programs.